Connector for shaker conveyers



April 14, 1942- J. A. MacPHER$ON arm.

I CONpIEC'I'OR FOR SHAKER CONVEYERS Filed March 28, 1941 INVENTOR. JOHN A. MACPHERSO/Y BY faWARD LAs/W/r v I g 770/M/04 cured thereto.

Patented Apr. 14, 1942 UNlTED STATESMPATENT OFFICE CONNECTOR FOR SHAKER CONVEYERS John A. MacPherson and Edward Lasnik,

. Erie, 0010.

Application March 28, 1941, Serial No. 385,614

6 Claims. (91. 198220) This invention relates to the type of conveyer used in coal mines known as a shaker conveyer and consisting of a series of trough-like pans connected together in a continuous line with means for shaking the entire length of pans to in the coal.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a connector for connecting the pans in the conveyerwhich will eliminate the useoi bolts.

and nuts; which will be positive and powerful in operation so as to rigidly maintain the pans in alignment; which has no loose parts to become lost; which will be rapid in operation so that it can be quickly and easily removed or replaced; and which will provide means for engaging the usual chain hanger by means of which the conveyer is suspended from the mine roofJf Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description. p

In the following'detailed description of the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing: V

Fig. 1 illustrates the improved connector in place on a typical shaker conveyer joint;

Fig. 2 is a cross section through the conveyer, taken on the line 22, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the improved connector, partially broken away to illustrate the inner construction;

Fig. 4 is a side View of an alternate form thereof; and 4 Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of an attachment which may be used with the alternate form of the improved connector.

In the drawing, the pans of a typical shaker conveyer are indicated at [0 and the suspension chains,bywhich means the conveyor is suspendedfrom the roof or other support, are illustrated at I l. Suchpans are provided at each extremity with a flat cross bar l2 riveted or otherwise se- These bars I2 extend across the bottom of the pan, as illustrated in Fig. 2, thence are rolled to form sleeve-like loops [3, thence s 1.0 aged in use, and they and their nuts become lost extend upwardly to support the sides of the pan, to which they are secured by means of suitable rivets l4.

In the usual conveyor, the adjacent cross bars are secured together by means of large bolts extending through the two loops l3 to clamp the extremities of the two pans l0 together. This invention makes use of the loops [3 and the bar l2 without changes therein.

The improved connector consists of a clamp screw l5 provided with right hand threads l6, adjacent one extremity, and left hand threads I1, adjacent its other extremity. Each extremity of the clamp screw terminates in a hexagonal or square wrench receiving head l8. The middle of the bar is preferably left unthreaded.

An L-shaped' jaw member I9 is threaded on the threads 16 and a similar jaw member 20 is threaded'onv the threads I'L' The jaw member I 9 carries a stud 2| of a diameter which fits snugly in the loops l3. and the jaw member 20 carries a stud 22 of similar diameter. Itis preferred to make the Stud 22 much longer than the stud 2|, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

To'a'ttach the device to a pan line joint, it is only necessary to swing the jaws l9 and 20 out of alignment with each other, thence insert thelonger'stud 22 through both loops [3. The jaw I9 is then swung into alignment and the clamp screw is rotated to cause both jaws to approach each other until the short stud 2| enters its loop. 13. Further tightening draws the two pans together. I

It is desired to call attention to the fact that to remove the connector the screw need'be rotated only sufliciently to separate the two jaws the length of the short stud 2|. The latter can then be swung aside to allow the long stud 22 to be withdrawn.

Thus, for the entire removal and replacement of the device, a movement of only one inch or less is necessary and since this movement is divided between two opposite threads, the movement'of-the screw is divided in half. Thus, but little time and labor is required to remove or replace the connector, whereas with the old style bolts, the nut must be completely unscrewed the entire length of the bolt and completely removed before the bolt can be withdrawn.

The long stud 22 acts to accurately maintain the two loops in alignment. However, it has been found that due to the construction of the pans, which are self aligning, an alignment member through both loops is not always necessary. For such cases the connector may be l passes. 'threaded mid-portion of the screw between the thereof. clevises swing upwardly against the sides of the i. pans to form side supports therefor.

- While a specific form of the improvement has manufactured as shown in Fig. 4 with two short studs, as illustrated at 23, and 24, which, of course, facilitates the removal and replacement of the device.

Should it be necessary, when using the latter form of this device, to provide means for aligning the loops, this can be accomplished by means of an attachment such as illustrated in Fig. 5, consisting ofa short 'bar 25 of a diameter to slip within the two loops I3. An ear 26 projects from the mid-portion of the bar 25 and is provided withan opening 21. In use, the fixture of Fig. 5 is placed between the two jaws of Fig.4

with the opening 21 surrounding the unthreade'd mid-portion of the clamp screw..l5 as indicated in broken line in Fig. 4.

When using the attachmentQit is first placed between the two loops l3 and the latter are forced against the ear 26 thereon. The two jaws are then swung to positionsopposite the loops. 20 I3 so that the studs 23 and 24 will enter the the connectors. Eachclevis carries an ear plate 29 having a hole through which the clamp screw The ear is positioned on the untwo jaws and is free to rotate thereabout. The

looped extremity of each clevis is brought .close together in parallel relation to form a narrow slot for receiving a chain link edgewise as illustrated. This prevents the next adjacent link .fI'OIl'l passing through the clevis and firmly locks the chain in place. 3.)

The chain is prevented from falling from the clevisby a hinged latch 30 which is pivoted at 3|. on the free end of the clevis to close the loop When in place on the chains the been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, 5

without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patentis:

1. A connector for a shaker conveyer of the type having pans terminating, in aligned bolt loops comprising: a pair of L-shaped jaws; a

screw having oppositely thrieaded extremities passing through said passages; wrench engaging faces in the extremities of said screw; and a stud extending inward from the shorter;1eg of each jaw in alignment with each other.

2. A connector for a shaker conveyer of the .type having pans terminating in aligned bolt threaded passage extending throughout the length of the longer leg of each jaw, the respective passages being oppositely threaded; a clamp screw having oppositely threaded extremities passing through said passages; wrench engaging faces in the extremities of said screw; a stud extending inward from the shorter leg of each jaw in alignment with each other; and means mounted on said screw for engaging a suspending chain.

3. A connector for a shaker conveyer of the type having pans terminating in.aligned bolt loops comprising: a pair of L-shaped jaws; a

loops comprising: a pair of L-shaped jaws; a threaded passage extending throughout the length of the longer leg of each jaw, the respective passages being oppositely threaded; a clamp screw having oppositely threaded extremities passing through said passages; wrench engaging faces in the extremities of said screw; a stud extending inward from the shorter leg of each jaw in alignment with each other; and a hookshaped clevis mounted on said screw intermediate said jaws for engaging a suspending chain.

4. A connector for a, shaker conveyer of the type having pans terminating in aligned bolt loops comprising: a pair of L-shaped jaws; a threaded passage extending throughout the length of the longer leg of each jaw, the respec-- tive passages being oppositely threaded; a clamp screw having oppositely threaded extremities passing through said passages; wrench engaging faces in the extremities of said screw; and a'stud extending inward from the shorter leg of each jaw in alignment with each other, one of said studs being sufliciently long to overlap the other jaw member, the, other of said studs being relatively short.

5. A connector for a shaker conveyer of the type having pans terminating in aligned bolt loops comprising: a pair of L-shaped jaws; ,a threaded passage extending throughout the length of the longer leg of each'jaw, the respective passages being oppositely threaded; a clamp screw having oppositely threaded extremities passing through said passages; wrench engaging faces in the extremities of said screw; a stud extending inward from the shorter leg of each jaw in alignment with each other; an ear member rotatably mounted. on said screw intermediate said jaws; and oppositely extending studs on said ear positioned in alignment with the first studs.

6. Means for attaching a shaker conveyer to its suspending chains comprising: hook-shaped clevises having narrowed loop portions for engaging an edgewise-positioned chain link; means for securing said clevis to the standard bolt loops with which the pans of standard .shaker conveyers are provided; and a latch member hinged to one extremity of said clevis so as to swing against the other extremity thereof to hold a chain in place therein.

JOHN A. MACPHERSON. EDWARD LASNIK. 

